One of my favorite stories of a Thanksgiving feast is found in Nehemiah chapter eight. You might like to take a few minutes to read it. What a time of rejoicing this was! It encompassed the whole land from the least to the greatest, from the poorest to the richest. This was not a feast that lasted just one day but seven days. There were many hours of reading God’s word, and the people rejoiced because God’s word was read to them and they understood it. “And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.” (Nehemiah 8:12)
We have much to be thankful for as well. We have the word of God that we can hold in our hands or read on our phones or tablets or computers. Any time we want, we can read it, and we can let it speak to us. The word of God tells us much about thanksgiving and also shows us many things that we can be thankful for. Let us take a look at some verses on thanksgiving.
- “And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.” (Leviticus 22:29)
How is our thanksgiving supposed to be offered to God? Of our own will, because we desire to offer it, not grudgingly.
-“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” (I Chronicles 16:34)
For what should we give thanks? For God’s goodness and mercy.
“Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” (Psalm 30:4)
We should give thanks for His holiness.
“O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” (Psalm 30:12b)
How long should we give thanks to the Lord? Forever, as long as we have breath.
“Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.” (Psalm 75:1)
We give thanks for God’s name and for His wondrous works.
“1) It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High… 4) For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. 5) O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.” (Psalm 92:1,4,5)
We give thanks to the Lord because He has made us glad.
“2) Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3) For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” (Psalm 95:2,3)
We come before God’s presence with thanksgiving because He is a great God and a great King above all gods.
“4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5) For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” (Psalm 100:4,5)
We give thanks because God’s truth endures to all generations.
“At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.” (Psalm 119:62)
We give thanks to God because of His righteous judgments.
“Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God.” (Psalm 147:7)
How do we give thanks to the LORD? With songs on our lips and songs played upon musical instruments.
“36) And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 37) And they did all eat, and were filled.” (Matthew 15:36,37a)
Why do we give thanks before we eat a meal? Because Jesus gave thanks before He partook of and distributed food. (See also John 6:23)
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 15:57)
We thank God because He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” (II Corinthians 9:11)
We give thanks for everything.
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (II Corinthians 9:15)
We give thanks for the great gift God gave us, the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“8) Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. 9) Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. 10) Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. 11) Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.” (I Chronicles 16:8-11)